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exchanged. Invariably peace had been restored, most often in bed. In any case, it had been made plain to the servants in the household that no audience was allowed either to the arguments or to the settlements. |
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In her own chamber Alinor tore off her clothes, casting them blindly in the direction of a chair and not caring when they missed. She was still so furious that she did not notice the absence of her maids. She threw herself into bed muttering, "Convenience! He will make a marriage of convenience, will he? Mayhap he will not find it so convenient to be married to me!" |
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She fully intended to lie awake and marshal the demands Ian must agree to before she went further with the marriage. He must understand that she meant to retain her independence. It was one thing to yield to a man for love. A man's pride was a delicate thing, and a loving woman would not would that pride. A business relationship was something entirely different. Partners in business did not need to worry about each other's pride. It was sufficient to be polite and honest. |
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It had been a long day, far fuller of physical activity and violent excitement and emotion than Alinor had had in months. Even as a faint doubt aroused by her last thought flickered in Alinor's mind, her eyes closed. She had not been very polite, it occurred to her, as she slipped into sleep, nor very honest, either. Perhaps Ian was not completely at fault. She slept deeply for the first time since Simon's death, free of the racking pain caused by the absence of his big, warm body in the bed. Later in the night she stirred and reached out, but the eyes in her dream were not blue and tender; they were hot and as black as the silky curls that shaded them. |
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The warm water was soothing. As Ian washed, his violent turmoil subsided. It could not have been what he said; it must have been how he said it. His tone had been accusatory, blaming Alinor for everything that had taken place. Some fault was hers, of course, but really very little. He himself had told her that the outlaws |
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